Entry No. 59 — the Fort Collins file — filed under: after-dark
Little Thompson Observatory
An all-volunteer community observatory on the east grounds of Berthoud High School, near the running track, open free to the public on the third Friday of nearly every month (closed in July for maintenance). Each Public Star Night opens with a guest-speaker presentation on a current astronomy topic, then, weather permitting, visitors gather at the dome's big telescopes — including an 18-inch and a 24-inch — for hands-on views of the night sky. Founded in 1994 and run entirely by volunteers, it asks for no reservations and no admission.
The story
You don't expect to find a serious window into deep space parked next to a high school running track in Berthoud, but that is precisely where the Little Thompson Observatory sits. Founded in 1994, this is not a municipal tourism play—it is an all-volunteer passion project tucked onto the east grounds of Berthoud High School at 850 Spartan Ave.
The star attractions inside the dome are serious optical heavyweights: an 18-inch telescope and a massive 24-inch reflector. While much of modern professional astronomy has shifted to digital sensors on computer monitors, the crew here still prioritizes direct visual observation—aiming high-aperture mirrors at planetary rings, star clusters, and deep-sky nebulae, then stepping aside so you can put your actual eye to the glass.
The entire facility operates on volunteer labor, donated software, and zero admission fees. They don't lock the experience behind expensive tickets or reservation systems, offering the public direct access to research-grade telescope glass on high school grounds.
What it's like
Park near the high school athletic fields on the third Friday of the month and walk past the track toward the dome. Public Star Nights begin with a guest speaker lecture on a current astronomical topic before opening up the eyepieces. Keep in mind that the dome is intentionally unheated so atmospheric heat currents don't distort the optics, so dress for the outdoor temperature. You'll queue up in the chilly dome for turns at the 18-inch and 24-inch scopes while volunteer operators point out features in the night sky.
The move: Show up on a third-Friday Public Star Night, sit through the sky tour, then take turns at the eyepiece of the big 18-inch telescope to catch whatever planet or nebula is up that month.
📍 Before you go Third Friday of the month (no July session); weather-permitting and unheated, so dress warm. No reservations needed.
- 📍 Berthoud
- 💸 $
- ⚡ Low-key
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: 850 Spartan Ave, Berthoud, CO 80513
Hours: Added 2026-06-23 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- Forge with Intention (David Norrie Blacksmithing School) — Spend the afternoon shaping glowing steel at this blacksmithing farm studio just a mile and a half down the road in Berthoud before heading to the dome at dark.
- Rosie's Barbershop & Cocktail Bar — Head seven miles north into downtown Loveland after your telescope session to slip past a working barbershop and into a hidden backroom cocktail lounge.
- The Flipside — Kill an hour before dusk six miles north in Loveland by playing pinball on a curated lineup of classic and modern machines.
- Sunlight Peak Observatory (FRCC Larimer Campus) — If you miss Berthoud's third-Friday schedule, check the public viewing calendar for this community college teaching dome further north in Fort Collins.
Good to know
Do I need tickets or reservations for Public Star Nights?
No. Public Star Nights require no reservations, have no guest cap, and are completely free to attend.
When are the public viewing nights held?
They take place on the third Friday of nearly every month. The observatory closes every July for scheduled annual maintenance.
How should I dress for a visit?
Dress in warm layers, especially in autumn and winter. The telescope dome stays unheated to keep the internal air temperature matched with the outside night sky, preventing thermal currents from warping the views.
What kind of telescopes do they have?
The observatory houses several large instruments, headlined by an 18-inch telescope and a 24-inch prime reflector telescope inside the dome.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: starkids.org · skyandtelescope.org · Yelp
last checked: 2026-06-23